EOD school sees change of command

Capt. William E. Noel is congratulated by Capt. Joseph Polanin during the change of command at the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal school on Eglin Air Force Base on Monday morning.

MARK KULAW / Daily News

By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE / Daily News

Published: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:57 PM.

EGLIN AFB — During his two years as commander of the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal school, Capt. Joseph Polanin oversaw training of an unprecedented number of students as the military’s need to locate and disarm explosives skyrocketed.

On Monday morning, with a handshake and a pat on the back, he said goodbye to the school and handed over the reins to Capt. William Noel, who is coming off a tour as a commander with Navy Expeditionary Command.

The joint operations EOD school is the training grounds for all members of the military who volunteer for the dangerous job. In 2010, about 1,600 students passed through the school. By 2012, that number reached over 2,000.

In addition to the increase in students, Polanin also oversaw many curriculum changes in order to keep up with what EOD technicians face in the field, said Navy Rear Adm. Frank Morneau, deputy director for expeditionary warfare.

“In the last two years, we’ve seen more positive changes here than in the last two decades,” he said during the ceremony. “That’s (Polanin’s) passion, his leadership, his care for community and what they will have to deal with when they hit the front lines, that’s what he is all about.”

He said the school’s instructors, who have all served many years in the field as EOD techs, have done a phenomenal job preparing their students and keeping the curriculum relevant.

He noted that over the Christmas break in December, instructors with the improvised explosive device division built an entire robot course for testing students. It gives students practical experience with what they will likely be called on to perform in the field.

Instructors also expanded the nuclear weapons division into a broader weapons of mass destruction section aimed at preparing students for challenges of the future, Morneau said.

“As many times as the curriculum has changed there is one thing that is timeless about this institution: the patience, the commitment and the passion of the instructors who put every iota of knowledge they have into the students here,” he said. “It is remarkable and inspiring.”

Polanin received the superior service medal from the Department of Defense for his service at the school.

During the ceremony, he thanked the more than 500 people working at the school, especially the officers in charge and senior enlisted leaders.

“Serving at your side and learning from you has been an unparalleled privilege for which I will always be in your debt,” he said. “Your heroism in combat and significant operational experience yielded amazing results for thousands of students. You brought the battlefield to the classroom better than ever before.”

Polanin will be moving to the position of commanding officer at the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving in Panama City.

After the ceremony, Noel said he couldn’t have asked to take over command from a better leader and that his main goal will be to keep the school moving forward.

“I just want to keep it moving down the road, to keep the curriculum dynamic as the threat changes and to make sure we prepare these kids for war,” he said.

EGLIN AFB — During his two years as commander of the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal school, Capt. Joseph Polanin oversaw training of an unprecedented number of students as the military’s need to locate and disarm explosives skyrocketed.

On Monday morning, with a handshake and a pat on the back, he said goodbye to the school and handed over the reins to Capt. William Noel, who is coming off a tour as a commander with Navy Expeditionary Command.

The joint operations EOD school is the training grounds for all members of the military who volunteer for the dangerous job. In 2010, about 1,600 students passed through the school. By 2012, that number reached over 2,000.

In addition to the increase in students, Polanin also oversaw many curriculum changes in order to keep up with what EOD technicians face in the field, said Navy Rear Adm. Frank Morneau, deputy director for expeditionary warfare.

“In the last two years, we’ve seen more positive changes here than in the last two decades,” he said during the ceremony. “That’s (Polanin’s) passion, his leadership, his care for community and what they will have to deal with when they hit the front lines, that’s what he is all about.”

He said the school’s instructors, who have all served many years in the field as EOD techs, have done a phenomenal job preparing their students and keeping the curriculum relevant.

He noted that over the Christmas break in December, instructors with the improvised explosive device division built an entire robot course for testing students. It gives students practical experience with what they will likely be called on to perform in the field.

Instructors also expanded the nuclear weapons division into a broader weapons of mass destruction section aimed at preparing students for challenges of the future, Morneau said.

“As many times as the curriculum has changed there is one thing that is timeless about this institution: the patience, the commitment and the passion of the instructors who put every iota of knowledge they have into the students here,” he said. “It is remarkable and inspiring.”

Polanin received the superior service medal from the Department of Defense for his service at the school.

During the ceremony, he thanked the more than 500 people working at the school, especially the officers in charge and senior enlisted leaders.

“Serving at your side and learning from you has been an unparalleled privilege for which I will always be in your debt,” he said. “Your heroism in combat and significant operational experience yielded amazing results for thousands of students. You brought the battlefield to the classroom better than ever before.”

Polanin will be moving to the position of commanding officer at the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving in Panama City.

After the ceremony, Noel said he couldn’t have asked to take over command from a better leader and that his main goal will be to keep the school moving forward.

“I just want to keep it moving down the road, to keep the curriculum dynamic as the threat changes and to make sure we prepare these kids for war,” he said.